Aggravation of bronchial eosinophilia in mice by nasal and bronchial exposure to Staphylococcus aureus enterotoxin B

P. W. Hellings, G. Hens, I. Meyts, D. Bullens, J. Vanoirbeek, P. Gevaert, M. Jorissen, J. L. Ceuppens, C. Bachert

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Abstract

The role of bacterial enterotoxins like Staphylococcus aureus enterotoxin B (SEB) in allergic asthma remains unknown. We used a mouse model of airway allergy to study the effects of nasal or bronchial contact with SEB on bronchial allergic inflammation. The features of allergic asthma were induced in ovalbumin (OVA)-sensitized mice (days 1-13) by repeated exposures to nebulized OVA (days 33-37). Nasal or bronchial application of SEB was performed on three occasions (days 33-35-37), and the effects on bronchial inflammation, IgE titres and expression levels of mRNA for T helper type 2 cytokines and other inflammatory mediators were evaluated. Both nasal and bronchial SEB enhanced the allergen-induced bronchial inflammation, as reflected by more eosinophilic inflammation in the airway lumen and in bronchial tissue. Aggravation of experimental asthma correlated with higher expression of mRNA for IL-5, IL-4, IFN-gamma, IL-12 p40, eotaxin-1 and TGF-beta in bronchi. In addition, nasal SEB elevated concentrations of IL-4, IL-5 and IFN-gamma in serum and bronchial SEB increased titres of OVA-specific and total IgE in serum. Our data illustrate the potential of both nasal as well as bronchial SEB to aggravate several features of allergic asthma in a mouse model
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1063-1071
JournalClinical and experimental allergy
Volume36
Issue number8
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2006

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